In the early years, the British Government rented premises for the High Commissioner and for the High Commission offices. The original High Commission office was in the East Block – not far from the present Chancery but then involving a lengthy journey across an often impassable flood plain (now Lake Burley Griffin) to the leased house on the Acton Peninsular which was the High Commissioner’s Residence between 1932 and 1953. That house, built as the residence for the first and only Administrator of the Federal Capital Territory, is now known as "Old Canberra House", formerly the Australian National University Staff Centre.

The British High Commission Chancery building was built in 1952 at the same time as Westminster House, the High Commissioner’s official residence in Empire Circuit, Deakin. The northern wing extension to the High Commission was completed in 1960.

The architects for both the High Commission office and the Residence were a Sydney firm – EA & TM Scott of Dalton House, Pitt Street. They were commissioned by the UK Ministry of Works. The Builders, who started work in August 1951, were the Canberra firm of Welch Brothers. The Chancery and residence cost a quarter of a million pounds – an enormous amount in those days.

The British High Commission building may seem comparatively modest when compared with some of the more lavish Embassy buildings which now add a somewhat exotic touch to Australia’s capital city. However, at the time it was built, Britain was recovering from the devastating economic burden of the Second World War and needed to restore its own bomb-ravaged cities. The fact that scarce financial resources were found to build the Chancery and Residence says much for the importance that the British Government has always attached to its relationship with Australia.

In late 1995 through until early 1997, the High Commission underwent a major refurbishment programme. A local firm of Project Managers, Integrated Construction, were appointed to undertake this work under the direction of the Overseas Estate Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. A well-known local firm, Mitchell/Guirgola & Thorp Architects, was engaged to undertake the design work associated with the refurbishment work. The architects previously won the competition to design the New Parliament House in Canberra.

Although the interior of the building was almost entirely refurbished, the building’s white rendered walls and regular window spacing were retained. This exterior is similar in character to the surrounding pre-war structures including Old Parliament House, the Canberra Hotel (now the Hyatt Hotel) and the Albert Hall. The refurbishment builds upon and enhances the inherent characteristics of this significant Canberra landmark.